Remember: Press F11 for a full screen view of this page.
 

 

" Latrigg with Ian and Steve "

Date & start time:   Saturday  23rd July 2016,  midday start.

Location of Start : Spooney Green Lane, Keswick, Cumbria, Uk ( NY 267 241 )

Places visited :      Brundholme Woods, Latrigg and the Filling Station Cafe afterwards.

Walk details :         4.75 mls, 975 feet of ascent, 3 hour 30 mins including lunch.

Highest point :       Latrigg Fell, 1,203ft - 368m

Walked with :         Ian, Steve, Ann and our dogs, Harry and Dylan.

Weather :                Overcast but very warm and slightly humid . . . no waterproofs today !

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number PU 100034184.

 

Recently Ian tried to include Latrigg in a walk from Castlerigg on the other side of the valley,

but that day he was blocked by the bridge closures and the flood damage on the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path.

Today he tries from Spooney Green and invites Steve and ourselves along to enjoy the walk and the summit views.

Parking on the edge of Keswick and setting off up Spooney Green Lane towards Latrigg.

To the left are the Skiddaw Fells with Carlside and Skiddaw south top.  The third top, Little Man, looking higher due being closer.

The main peak of Skiddaw with the trig point and viewing pillar is just out of sight over the back of the middle peak.

Across the A66 North Lakes road bridge.

A gate to lean on and chance to meet the gang today . . . Ann, Ian and Steve.

Nice to be walking with Steve again.  He's come up on the train from Barrow to Seascale and then over in the car with Ian.

Rather than head straight for the top we head right along the forest paths that contour along the fell side.

As with a lot of forest tracks there are more than are shown on the map . . . we take the one that climbs slightly uphill.

We're above valley level and with the gaps in the trees the view opens out  to the south.

Keswick and Derwent Water and the distant high fells from Great End and Scafell Pike round to Gable and Grisedale Pike.

The view from this field won't be here for ever as they've planted trees inside the protective plastic tubes.

A tiny stream goes by the name of Ram's Beck . . .
. . . so we name this tiny lake Latrigg Tarn.

The dogs seem to like it.

The footpath continues on through the trees . . .
. . . often confused with the remains of a mountain bike route.

There was an attempt to build an unofficial course without permission on this private land and most of it has been removed . . . but not this jump.

A surprising fruit of the forest . . .
. . . as this area includes several cherry trees.

There are lots of native trees on this side of Latrigg   but much of the woodland is commercial as well.

Here we have joined a recently used forest track.

The recent traffic was a large forestry harvesting vehicle.

An impressive harvester machine with eight wheel drive

and a full set of caterpillar tracks.

 

 

- - - o o o - - -

 

The working head of the unit

which hangs at the end of its extending arm

is used to cut, pick up, trim and then lift the timber

using an impressive set of gripping rollers.

 

 

- - - o o o - - -

 

For those are intrigued with large machinery

click in the Ponsse website here.

For those that are impressed with silly games try walking the log and balancing on the end !

On the last part of the path we leave the woodland and regain our views

of the high fells to the south and down into the River Greta valley.

Far below we can see a newly eroded cliff, one of many which have added to the extra gravel and rock left in the river bed

all the way down the valley including through the town of Keswick . . . devastating but natural erosion at work.

Further upstream is the old railway bridge, its supports undermined, it was cast aside by the flood waters.

Through a gap in the trees, the other end of the bridge, now now longer anchored to the southern river bank.

Our path emerged virtually at the eastern end of the ridge of Latrigg.

Here the views extend from Clough Head all the way up the long ridge of the Dodds to the summit of Helvellyn.

All that remains is the mainly gentle ascent of that eastern ridge back up to the summit of Latrigg.

As we haven't seen Steve for a while there was always plenty to talk about.

Starting as we did late morning . . . today's walk included lunch with a view.

Steve contemplated whether he has enough to share with Dylan and Harry,

but we've brought their dog biscuits along so there's no need.

- - - o o o - - -

 

Idle thoughts . . .

 

Someone has stapled a piece of string to the gate

and tied it to the gate catch mechanism.

What a good idea.

 

[ Nowadays the "British standard" is to have

an additional rising bar with a finger loop on the top.]

 

Either way it means that the catch can be operated

by anyone on a horse or pony

without the need to dismount

and it keeps fingers clear of the catch mechanism.

 

Who'd have thought  . . . ?

 

- - - o o o - - -

Drawing level with the Gale Road car park

we can look across once more at Skiddaw Little Man and the tourist route and bridleway up Jenkin Hill.

To our left a view of Derwent Water once again.

Looking down on the houses of the Chestnut Hill outskirts of Keswick and across to Castlerigg campsite under Bleaberry Fell.

The tracks across the fields may look like wind farm work but they are probably test drilling sites for the new Thirlmere water pipeline.

Walking along by the larch trees on the summit of Latrigg.

This is a favourite place for people to sit and enjoy the view.

. . . or stand and enjoy the view.

 . . . or for that matter lie down and enjoy the view.

Down below, the new affordable housing being built on what was known as the Sheep Dog Field

. . . and down there is where I used to work . . . hi fellas !

The round window in the roof of Fishers holds the webcam . . .here's looking at you . . . or should I say, each other.

Gradually the distant rumble of the A66 traffic . . .
. . . was being replaced by a louder buzz.

A cheerful wave from the guys from Cumbria Gyroplanes as they circled the fell and flew on.

The summit passed, it was downhill all the way.

 

 

- - - o o o - - -

 

 

This is the view down the path,

and over the houses of Portinscale

down there in the valley.

 

 

In the background,

the rising path up Barrow Fell

with Outerside, Sail and Crag Hill

rising away into the distance.

 

 

- - - o o o - - -

A new chair replaced the old at the lower viewpoint.

We get chatting to others on the summit . . . once they had finished chatting to the dogs of course.

Looking down on Derwent Island out in the lake beyond the roof of Theatre by the Lake.

To our right the large hotel and holiday development of Underscar Manor.

We opt for a quicker descent down the steeper front of the fell.

Steep enough to consider zig-zagging down . . .
. . . it levels slightly when you reach the forest gate.

The couple from Keswick had followed us down and we chatted for a while.

[ Many thanks to Rachel B. for the identification ]
Delicate harebells on the way through the woods . . .
. . . and these more exotic yellow Loosestrife lower down.

The rowan tree is starting to bear fruit

and we can look across to Catbells, Hindscarth and Robinson now we have reached the main path down toSpooney Green lane.

- - - o o o - - -

 

Two of the para gliders

 

that had been flying across the flanks

 

of Skiddaw and Jenkin Hill

 

came down to land in the field beyond

 

much to the delight of the two children

 

in this family group.

 

- - - o o o - - -

   

Four fine cups of tea or coffee and several nice biscuits were a delight for us

This was the first time we had visited the Crosthwaite Filling Station Cafe at High Hill . . . it won't be the last.

- - - o o o - - -

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon Sureshot SX220, or my Canon 1100D Digital SLR.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . another large mug of tea ... two in two walks ... not bad.

Go to Top . . . © RmH . . . Email me here

Previous walk - 14th July 2016 - Long Meg and Lacy Caves

A previous time up here - 3rd September 2013 - Latrigg with Jo and Jen

Next walk - 1st August 2016 - Fangs Brow Walk to the Chair